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What is this exactly?

Hi, I’m Chris!

Curious about building an AR-15 and don’t even know where to begin??? You’re in luck! You and I have a lot more in common than you might think. This site will act as a real time knowledge-base as I research, purchase, and build a functioning AR-15 rifle. Wish me luck!

Hit the ‘AR Research’ button on the menu bar and dive in. The oldest posts are at the bottom.

The Author

Hi, my name is Chris! I am not a gunsmith, gun collector, gun junkie, expert, historian, or anything like that. In fact, I am a relatively new gun owner who lives in California. I got into shooting sports in the middle of 2009 and I love it! Recently a gentleman at my local outdoor shooting range let me fire his AR-15 and I instantly fell in love! The gentleman said that rather than buying a pre-built one, I would probably have lots of fun building and customizing one on my own… and when I asked about how to build it, he said “look it up online!”

Fair enough… I’m a fan of the ‘google it’ mentality. Hell, I hardly even go to the doctor anymore because I can look everything up on the web. So the mission began… I had seen talk here and there on random firearm websites about uppers, lowers, and OLLs and all sorts of stuff completely foreign to me. What I really needed was a one-stop-shop starters guide to the AR-15, and never really found one… which leads me to:

This Site

This website will serve as a ‘brain-dump’ of sorts throughout the research, purchase, and construction phase of building my AR-15. I will be searching to the end of the internet to find all the answers on how to build one of these rifles from scratch, and sharing my learnings along the way. It is my goal to have this site serve as a complete ‘start to finish’ explanation of everything you would ever need to learn to build your own AR.

I will always share links to the websites, videos, and other information from which I’m gathering my data. Also, I’d like to point out that I’m not going to be discussing at great length the ‘legality’ of these rifles. I will be constructing a California legal rifle, period.

‘The Fine Print’

I’m not a gunsmith, I’m only a guy with an internet connection. Feel free to post questions in the comments… and I’ll do my best to answer them. This site is intended for folks who know less than me to learn, and for people smarter than me to share the wealth.

I do not own the rights to many of the images used throughout the site. Since I don’t have a finished AR, I will have to resort to the web for graphical examples used on this site. If I’ve used your image and you want it removed, message me via the email address below. Please investigate the local, state, and federal laws before starting your AR project.

Contact Info

Should you need to contact the owner of this site for any reason, please send an email to:

Stumbled upon your site as a Noob and a new AR-15 owner. Haven’t shot it much and when I did I was disappointed in MY performance. The “basic” videos are helping me gain confidence and teaching me the RIGHT way so I won’t have to un-learn bad habits. Thanks… and keep updating.

Very informative site, just built my first lower. But just like most builds, it is outfitted with Magpul equipment. I tried looking into other brands, but nothing seemed to catch my eye. I purchased the Sig516 upper, and am currently waiting for Fed-Ex to arrive… SHEESH! The anticipation is killing me! It’s like waiting for your girlfriends pregnancy test to say “Negative”. Keep up the awesome work!!! Thanks!

I definately will!!! Looks like my gf and I have a spare lower receiver to make a project rifle with. We went to Vegas not to long ago, and she played roulette, and single card black jack for he first time ever and came up on a couple of hundred bucks. The first thing she says to me is, “Let’s go shopping!” I am not against women shopping, so I obliged. On the way to pick up my son from my parents (currently live out there) She see’s the ammo store that my son saw on the way to my parents a few days earlier, she then tells me “Let’s go shopping!” My eyes wilted up. They ended up being shut down, so I googled another store, and found Citadel gun and safe. Made our way over there to buy ammo, since we figured that it may be cheaper than buying it in Orange County. As we were looking for ammo, we saw a flyer with a bushmaster complete lower receiver parts kit for 45 bucks. She then says “that’s what I want!” *more tears in my eyes* So we get 2 sets of those, a paddle holster for her XD 45, and a set of hearing protectors for my little guy. Sorry I went in depth with that story, but who wouldn’t when their girlfriend refers to shopping as “GUN STORE TIME” Anyway, back to the story with the extra receiver. So we basically went to OC Armory in Laguna Hills and got 2 Spikes lower receivers, I got mine a couple of days earlier because she got food poisoning the day I went to do the paper work on mine.
She picked hers up yesterday and brings it home to show her dad, and he says to her, “why did you get one? I already got one for you when we built you moms rifle.” They built her moms rifle last year, and he failed to tell her in that period of time till now that he bought her a lower… So I guess we are going to use the third lower as a project that me, her, and my son can put together. Any suggestions? Thanks for reading this long atrocious story of mine.

A terrific idea for a site! Prior to my build I spent a lot of time on forums reading up on the how-to’s and weeding through the “if it ain’t expensive it’s junk” posts. Me? If I wanted an AR of my own I had to go bargain-basement; inexpensive lower, inexpensive upper, and inexpensive lower parts kit. It took a while, but I eventually got all the parts. While AR snobs might turn their noses up at it, it’s a fun gun, looks good, and it’s *mine*. Over the next couple years I’ll update parts as I’m able. Honestly, I ain’t planning on taking it into combat so it’s good enough as it is, reliable and probably more accurate than I am :^)
Noobs, don’t let anyone look down at you if you can’t afford a $2000 build. Build as good as you can afford and just enjoy your handiwork.

I purchased a Dpms lo-pro classic ar and I purchased an buffer tube and magpul ctr stock to replace the original, unfortuantly the buffer/stock combination does not seem to want to work. I have the buffer put on and the lower does not want to line back up with the upper reciever..idk what the problem is if the buffer tube is incorrect or what, it seems like the buffer has 2 many threads to line up properly with the stock. the threads are to long which in return don’t allow the bottom to attch to the upper..please hellp if you can

#11 | Written by AR15 for Noobs Admin - Chris on October 3, 2012.Reply

Just wanted to say thank you for this site!! I am in the process of building an AR-15 as well and stumbled across your site. I’ve been reading everything, and love how much knowledge I have been attaining. Not to mention I live in California as well. So once again thank you. Maybe after I get mind built we could meet up at a range. I’m in the LA area.

i love your site, thank you very much Chris! small world, believe it or not, i used to live in San Fernando, but now live in Las Vegas. anyways just wanted to say THANK YOU!!! you broke everything down to the T and mentioned websites where we could buy the parts, which helps us noobs out a lot! i have so far only built my lower receiver. the upper is gonna have to wait, nothing available online

#15 | Written by AR15 for Noobs Admin - Chris on February 12, 2013.Reply

Yo! A bunch of companies make piston conversion systems… I think that’s what you’re referring to. Essentially, the gas is used to force a long piston to push the bolt carrier group rearward. Here’s one company that makes em:

Thanks for the info on your website. Just recently decided to build my own AR15 cuz I’m bored and want something to do. I could buy a complete one, but I won’t learn as much and building / learning is more fun than shooting it (at least for me). Currently looking for my first part of the purchase – lower. I’m a CA resident so need to be careful. Thinking of getting S&W M&P.

Hey Scott! I hate to say it but right now is the worst time for starting your build. I can’t imagine what price an M&P Lower may cost in the current market. Any lower you can find should do. I’ve seen a few posted in SoCal for in the $250 range. As far as staying ‘legal’ in CA, just follow the CalGuns AW flowchart and you’ll be okay. Good luck!

For people who don’t mind ordering your lower online, PalmettoStateArmory.com has lowers for about $120.00… This is where I got mine and it’s good quality. They ship it to your local FFL. The DROS fees are higher because its from out of state but if you can get it cheaper then buying one from a CA gun store it is worth it. They also have mag rebuild kits for around $14.00 each unless you buy in bulk then they are a little cheaper. They do sell mags rebuild kits to CA. Here is the link to a CalGuns.net thread from PSA (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=629821) with what to do.

I’m about to check out your site’s content and I would like to tell you that I support what you’re doing. “AR15ForNoobs” is a great idea, I seriously hope you have great success with your site. With all the crappy sites around built by people with nothing in mind other than making a dollar, it’s nice to see an amateur built site with a catchy URL.

I know a good deal about cyber security, feel free to contact me via e-mail at ZacJones9001@gmail.com. I don’t charge anything, I just only help those that I actually support. Good f***ing site, mate.

Thanks for your site. I’m getting ready to assembly my 80%, screw Commiefornia, AR. I noticed you have a ‘flash suppressor’ vs a muzzle brake. If this is still the case you may wish to revist the laws on this to avoid any grief here in the great state of Commiefornia.

I am not a noob when it comes to guns but I am “noobish” when it comes to building my own AR. I am a vet and have been shooting for many years but I just recently decided I wanted a rifle that “fit” me. This site is great source for all that info that is “common knowledge” but those of us who have never done this before don’t know. Thanks for making this place!

Jim, as long as its an upper for an ar15, it will work on an ar15 lower. Some require caliber specific magazines though but still lock in like standard ar mags. 7.62×39 for example needs a specific magazine.

Hello,
To anyone interested in helping out a in his 50’s man born in downtown Los Angeles years ago in piecing together what is required to build an AR-15 please contact me at the email address I left here. Since this fine gentleman started his build 5 years ago or so I will assume he finished. Gun experience= My father purchased my first gun in Medford Oregon 17 years ago a RUGER 10/22 I still own and works to this day. Warn yes, thousands of Bu Bonic carrying squirrels sacrificed in the breaking in of my fine first piece of armament. I have owned several guns since then have done a lot of work on my 10/22 in the last 5 years or so and love doing it.. I found I have somewhat of a knack for the stuff.. My problem? I have this yucky condition called Failed Low Back Surgery Syndrome live in shitloads of pain and only survive day to day due to marrying my beautiful wife 11 years ago. U might say she is my backbone no PUN intended. I started shooting indoors as a way to get me out of the house for a couple of hours but as my condition is worsening now including something called Mio-Malaysia or I stand a good chance of being paralyzed within the next so many years from the neck down if it cannot be fixed. So I live in north county San Diego if you or U know someone who would like to help me out contact me, thanks and thanks for the AR’er who made this website U B good People, Brent- I apologize for posting this I am kind of desperate……PEACE

i just want to know how do i join this page or forum found lot of info here and it was all very clear to the point

#29 | Written by AR15 for Noobs Admin - Chris on January 20, 2017.Reply

Hey James! There’s nothing really to ‘join’, you’ll always have access to the information. If you want updates on new posts, you can follow our Twitter, or set up your email to follow our RSS feed (link up at the top right of the page)

I have been looking for a complete list of parts I would need to build a CA compliant AR15. I hope to use a fixed mag and still be able to have a pistol grip(if possible). Want to be able to convert it to a detachable mag when I move out of CA in the future.

#31 | Written by AR15 for Noobs Admin - Chris on January 20, 2017.Reply